Acupuncture

Many of us think of Acupuncture as an outdated Chinese practice without a solid foundation in medicine. We think to ourselves, “there’s no way sticking some needles in my back could ever make me feel any better, it must be the placebo effect for those who advocate its worth.”

Despite the ancient contextualization that accompanies acupuncture, the practice still has many benefits that apply to our modern world. The issue with acupuncture is not the power of its healing, but rather the contemporary impression of the technique, Dr. Adrian White, editor in chief of the scientific journal Acupuncture explains: "One of the major problems facing medical acupuncture is the preconceived notions both the public and healthcare professionals have of it. The perception is that acupuncture is still all about chi and meridians." However, he continues that insights are starting to shift as more evidence is compiled: "In the past it was easy for doctors and scientists to dismiss acupuncture as 'highly implausible' when its workings were couched in talk of chi and meridians. But it becomes very plausible when explained in terms of neurophysiology."

Acupuncture is such an effective medical method for all types of pain and discomfort from nausea to arthritis. The way it works is, needles are placed into strategic locations that stimulate the nerves in the brain and spinal cord to release opioids, a naturally produced chemical that makes you feel good.

Acupuncture has been proven especially successful in the treatment of migraines and headaches, but the World Health Organization recognizes it as an effective treatment option for 28 conditions! The benefits of acupuncture are undeniable. In 2009 the US Air Force began teaching “battlefield acupuncture” to physicians so that they could treat wounded soldiers quickly and effectively. The whole procedure typically only lasts 20 minutes. Acupuncture has been in practices for centuries, but we are only now beginning to discover all the benefits of the technique.

Here are some of the benefits that you might experience after experiencing acupuncture in our office: